FOXBOROUGH — The University of Massachusetts football team gave Vanderbilt a game it was not expecting Saturday.

But, as has so often been the case, UMass couldn't keep it up in the second half, falling 24-7 in the Minutemen's most closely-contested game of the season.

Moral victories don't mean as much for a team still looking at a big zero in the win column, but progress is progress.

Led by a defense rejuvenated by a return to a 4-3 front seven look , the Minutemen (0-4) stifled the Commodores' offense early. UMass held Vanderbilt to just 10 points in the first half, and looked to make it a tie game heading into the break before a Blake Lucas field goal sailed wide right.

Making his second straight start, A.J. Doyle again looked sharp under center, but a pounding Vanderbilt (2-2) pass rush kept him off balance for much of the second half. Doyle finished with 133 yards and a touchdown on 20 of 28 passing.

The Minutemen's secondary, which had held the dangerous Commodore passing attack to just 102 yards in the first half, eventually gave way, as well. Vanderbilt quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels eventually found his groove, hitting on two touchdown passes.

UMass is off next week with a bye before traveling to face Bowling Green.